THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Minutes of the Meeting of the Steering Committee held on 21 May 2007
Present:
Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
Professor L Bridges
Professor A Caesar
Mr B Duggan
Professor J Jones
Professor R Lindley
Professor M Luntley
Professor S B Palmer
Professor M Smith
Professor H Thomas
Professor M Whitby
Apologies:
Professor S Bassnett, Professor Y Carter.
In Attendance: Academic Registrar, Director of Communication (from item 520/06-07), Director of Estates,
Director of Finance, Registrar, University Secretary, Ms N Snodgrass, Ms H Sinclair, for item
520/06-07 the Director of Warwick International and the Assistant Director (Partnerships &
Networks), International Office.
The Steering Committee welcomed Ms Helen Sinclair, incoming Assistant Secretary, to her first meeting of
the Committee.
515/06-07
Minutes
RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2007 be approved.
516/06-07
Quality Assurance Framework Review: Collaborative Provision (minute 500/06-07 refers)
REPORTED: (by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor {Teaching and Learning})
That, following discussions with the Senior Assistant Registrar (Teaching Quality), it had
been determined that the University would not participate in the final phase of the Quality
Assurance Framework Review on collaborative provision.
517/06-07
National Student Survey (minute 473/06-07 refers)
REPORTED: (by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor {Teaching and Learning})
That the University’s final institutional response rate to the 2007 National Student Survey
(NSS) had been 55% rather than 51% as reported earlier to the Committee.
518/06-07
Visit of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
RESOLVED:
That the Steering Committee record its thanks to all those members of staff who had
contributed to the success of the visit of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Warwick
Manufacturing Group and the University on Sunday 20 May 2007.
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519/06-07
UK HE Funding
RECEIVED:
An oral report from the Vice-Chancellor on anticipated future developments in regard to HE
funding, noting in particular the following:
(a) That it was expected that the Science Research Investment Fund would be maintained
as a slightly-reduced funding stream;
(b) That future rounds of funding under the Higher Education Innovation Fund were likely to
be formula-driven;
(c) That it was anticipated that cost recovery on research projects would be increased from
80% of full economic costing (fEC) to 90% fEC.
520/06-07
International Issues Update
CONSIDERED:
A paper providing an update on the University’s strategic engagements with North America
(SC.343/06-07) together with an oral report from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International
Affairs and Equal Opportunities).
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Steering Committee endorse the continuation of the University North American
Travel Fund in the financial year 2007/08 and that this proposal be incorporated into the
International Office Five-Year Plan for consideration in the 2007 financial planning
round.
(b) That the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International
Affairs and Equal Opportunities), in consultation with the Interim Director of the Institute
for Advanced Study, undertake a review of the operation of the North American Travel
Fund in the context of the funding available through the University’s Research
Development Fund.
(c) That work continue to be undertaken by the International Office to pursue further
coordinated and cross-departmental institutional partnerships with institutions in North
America and Canada.
521/06-07
Energy Technologies Institute
RECEIVED:
A copy of a letter from the DTI notifying the University that its expression of interest in
hosting the new Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) had been unsuccessful together with a
DTI news release on the progress of the bidding process for the ETI (SC.339/06-07).
RESOLVED:
That the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) investigate possible opportunities for the
involvement of the University in the work of the Energy Technologies Institute through
potential collaborative partnerships with those institutions and consortia shortlisted to
proceed to the final stage of the bidding process.
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522/06-07
Employers’ Pensions Forum
RECEIVED:
(a) A copy of a letter from UUK, GuildHE and UCEA on the forthcoming establishment of a
joint UUK/GuildHE/UCEA employers’ pensions forum with the aim of ensuring the closer
alignment between sector interests and the development of pension provision as well as
the establishment of firm connections between pay and pensions (SC.340/06-07).
(b) An oral report from the Registrar on the UUK/UCEA consultation on flexible retirement in
USS, noting that this consultation document had recently been issued and that the
University would be submitting a response to the consultation by the deadline of 13
June.
523/06-07
Council of Wellingborough School
REPORTED: (by the University Secretary)
That a request had been received from Wellingborough School for the nomination of a
representative of the University for appointment to the Council of Wellingborough School,
noting that Professor Thomas had been the University’s previous representative on the
Council but that he had indicated that he did not wish to be re-nominated for appointment.
RESOLVED:
That members of the Committee forward to the University Secretary any suggestions for the
nomination of a representative of the University for appointment to the Council of
Wellingborough School in place of Professor Thomas.
524/06-07
Annual Monitoring and Corporate Planning Statements
RECEIVED:
The executive summary of HEFCE document 2007/10 on the submission of annual
monitoring statements and corporate planning statements for the academic year 2006/07
and financial forecasts for the period to 2010/11 (SC.341/06-07).
525/06-07
Launch of Research Integrity Helpline
RECEIVED:
UUK Information Note I/07/55 on the launch of the Research Integrity Helpline by the UK
Panel for Research Integrity in Health and Biomedical Sciences (SC.342/06-07)
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30/05/07
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